Texas Violent Death Reporting Data Analyst

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The data abstractor works under the Manager for the Texas Violent Death Reporting System in the Newborn Screening and Injury Prevention (NBSIP) Section. Performing routine (journey-level) work requesting and compiling data related to violent deaths (i.e., homicides, suicides) in Texas. Position will be responsible for requesting record information from Justices of the peace (JPs), Medical Examiners (MEs), and Law Enforcement (LE) agencies, and identifying pertinent information from death certificates, JP/ME and LE records. The data abstractor will synthesize information and then complete data entry into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) federal database (National Violent Death Reporting System). The Data Abstractor requests, tracks, and receives documents from new and existing data providers. The Data Abstractor cleans, scans, stores, and organizes documents pertaining to Texas violent deaths from data providers, which include federal, state and county agencies, health care providers, law enforcement agencies, private organizations and associations, employers, and the general public. Position will be responsible for engaging in data quality improvement projects such as re-abstracting cases and maintaining record management systems. Works under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements.

Requirements

• Knowledge of statistics and analyzing data sets; running queries, report writing, and presenting findings; and record keeping, including security procedures for handling, protecting, and distributing confidential data.
• Knowledge of data models, database design development, data mining, and segmentation techniques.
• Knowledge of office practices and administrative procedures.
• Knowledge of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and writing style.
• Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software, in conducting data searches, in evaluating and translating large amounts of data, and in critical thinking.
• Skill in analyzing problems and devising effective solutions.
• Skill in organizing, supporting, coordinating, facilitating, and monitoring various activities of diverse individuals and/or groups and teams.
• Skill in email, e.g. Outlook, and calendar software functions.
• Skill in searching the Internet for information.
• Skill in constructing and maintaining databases and spreadsheets.
• Skill in constructing, proofing, editing, formatting and maintaining documents, databases and spreadsheets.
• Skill in organizing information and developing reports, training materials and presentations using word processing and other software (MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Skill in communicating information clearly, concisely, and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Skill in coordinating, facilitating, organizing, and processing travel arrangements and reimbursements.
• Ability to compile, review, and analyze data; to prepare reports; to maintain accuracy and attention to detail; and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to interpret and apply agency rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple and diverse tasks/projects in an effective and efficient manner.
• Ability to work under deadline pressures and cope well in stressful environments.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely with minimal grammar, spelling, punctuation and formatting errors.
• Ability to review information of a violent nature and be able to clearly identify and write narratives.
• Ability to communicate effectively within the agency and with the public.
• Ability to implement administrative procedures and to evaluate their effectiveness.
• Ability to exercise judgment and critical thinking in evaluating situations, making decisions, and effectively working through areas of conflict.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors and co-workers.
• Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university and a minimum of one (1) year of experience with review of either: death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, law enforcement reports or equivalent medical/legal record review, applications, insurance records, employee files, and confidential records.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience with review of either: death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, law enforcement reports or equivalent medical/legal record review, applications, insurance records, employee files, and confidential records.

Responsibilities

• Compiles violent death data from multiple data sources (i.e. death certificates, medical examiner and justice of the peace reports, and law enforcement reports). Analyzes and identifies pertinent information from source documents as defined by the National Violent Death Reporting System. Translates pertinent information into the CDC NVDRS system based on established CDC guidelines. Adhere to CDC guidelines for timeliness (16 months for full data abstraction), grant deadlines (annually), and administrative and programmatic requirements. Identify and interpret data patterns and trends and assess data quality.
• Contact justices of the peace, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies to obtain death investigation, autopsy, and toxicology reports. Receives and organizes documents from new and existing data providers pertaining to violent deaths (i.e. homicides, suicides) in Texas, which include federal, state and county agencies, health care providers, law enforcement agencies, private organizations, and the general public. Follow up with reporting sources as needed. Assist in improving data collection processes by identifying issues and assisting in mitigating them.
• Engage in data quality improvement and security projects. Collects, queries, and analyzes data using standard statistical tools, applications, methods, and techniques. Interprets data analysis results to identify significant differences and trends in data to inform decisions. Will provide re-abstraction and cross validation of cases as needed to ensure high quality abstraction. Consults with internal and external customers to identify data analytics needs. Crosstrain and support other abstractors on maintaining and implementing secure systems for digital and physical files throughout the abstraction process. Cleans and prunes data to discard irrelevant information.
• Assist Epidemiologists in responding to requests for data. Write responses to correspondence and/or reply to telephone inquiries by providing required data, information or assistance as required.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements. Performs related work as assigned.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level